FAQ

If you are on this page, it is likely that you want to know more about Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary.

From your first contact to potentially taking home a four-legged friend, we are here to help as much as we can.

Take a look at some of our frequently asked questions and hopefully they can answer any of your queries, but if there is anything else we can help with send us an email to crosskennan@hotmail.co.uk

Archie is answering your questions as quickly as his old paws will type!

GENERAL

I emailed you two days ago and you still haven't responded, why?

Unfortunately our office is only manned part time and not at weekends. We also are receiving a large number of emails everyday. We appreciate your patience when contacting us, we will do all we can to get back to you ASAP.

If you have an urgent issue please call the sanctuary directly - 028 9446 5384. Again our phones are not manned 24/7 but we do recieve your messages and try and reply within a day or less.

I phoned today but no one answered; is there no one there?

Unfortunately our office is only manned part time and not at weekends. We also are receiving a large number of calls everyday as well as the normal work of the sanctuary and the unplanned rescues. We appreciate your patience when contacting us, we will do all we can to get back to you ASAP.

If you have an urgent issue please call the sanctuary directly and leave a message - 028 9446 5384. Again our phones are not manned 24/7 but we do recieve your messages and try and reply within a day or less. Please make sure to leave a contact name and number in a clear voice so we can call you back.

How are you funded?

Crosskennan is entirely funded by public donations. Our annual funding requirement is now approximately £200,000. We have no income from national or local authority and no national or parent charity to draw funds from. We rely solely on the goodwill of people such as yourselves to help us to take care of all our animals as well as grant giving bodies.

How can I donate things to the sanctuary?

You can donate a wide variety of things to the sanctuary. If you have any items please contact the sanctuary via email - office@crosskennanlane.org.uk. Please note that we are generally unable to collect donations.

What things can I donate to the sanctuary?

You can donate a wide variety of things to the sanctuary, including;

Animal Food: We can take advantage of most donated animal food. If for some reason we cannot use it ourselves, we will ensure that other animals in need benefit from your generousity. Fresh fruit and vegetables are always welcome for our birds and equines.

Bedding: We have a never-ending need for bedding! This can be blankets, towels, sheets and other similar materials that we can use to make beds.

Items For Selling: The items we can sell include unwanted gifts, good quality bric-a-brac, household items, etc.

If you have any items please contact the sanctuary via email - office@crosskennanlane.org.uk. Please note that we are generally unable to collect donations.

ANIMALS

What animals do you have?

We have worked with many different animals over the years but work primarily with Horses and ponies, dogs, cats, and Birds like Hens, ducks etc.

Do you ever put an animal to sleep?

Unfortunately this comes with life, but our policy is that we never put a healthy animal to sleep. We ethunaise only on veterinary advice as well as a consultation with the team.

Do you Rehome all the animals?

No, some of our animals are assessed as being unsuitable for rehoming. We offer sanctuary to these animals for their lifetimes - the same goes for animals that have been unsuccessful in finding a suitable home. The Sanctuary becomes their home and the staff and volunteers become their family. We treat every animal at the sanctuary like one of our own pets.

Why are some animals Permanent Residents?

It varies case by case but many are permanent because of one or more of the following;

Health complaints or injuries that make them expensive to care for.

Mental scars from previous experiences leaving them with behavioural problems.

Old age.

Bonds with other permanent residents that cannot be broken.

Bonds with the sanctuary environment and the people there.

Where do your animals come from?

Each case is different but all of our animals have come to us as a rescue in some form. Most of our residents have been found abandoned or come to us after being rescued from their previous homes where they were mistreated or faced neglect. We also have some animals that come to us as private handovers/unwanted pets but we have to limit this if we can.

Why don't you take in unwanted pets?

We do take in animals from homes in which the owners could no longer care for them or the animal is unwanted but we have to limit this if we can. We endeavour to help every animal that we can but as the sanctuary is generally always at capacity there may be a waiting list. We offer a Home from Home Rehoming service where we cannot offer your animal a place at the sanctuary.

Do you ever get puppies/kittens? Can you call me when they come in?

We do get puppies and kittens in at the sanctuary, but as you can imagine this is a very popular request and we don't have capacity to contact everyone. We will post on our Facebook page and on our website when we are looking for homes for Puppies or Kittens. The same rules apply for rehoming puppies/kittens as they do for adult animals.

If I am interested in a breed will you call me when one comes into the centre?

Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to do this. We would recommend keeping an eye on our website and our social media pages.

REHOMING

Who can rehome an animal from you?

We believe that there is an animal to suit everyone, but sometimes it can take time to find the perfect match. We recomend anyone interested in rehoming contact us via an application form if required (horses and Dogs usually) or by email.

We will try and match you to your perfect animal and hopefully you can rehome if you can meet the needs of that particular animal.

How can I rehome an animal from you?

We believe that there is an animal to suit everyone, but sometimes it can take time to find the perfect match. We recomend anyone interested in rehoming contact us via an application form if required or by email. We cannot guarantee we will have an animal to suit your requirements or skill level.

Why would I rehome a Rescue animal?

There are many reasons why re-homing a rescue from Crosskennan is more rewarding than purchasing. The main one being you are providing a better life and a secure future for an animal that maybe hasn't had the best start in life.

Are the rescue animals healthy?

All Animals at the sanctuary receive extra loving care and feeding program is devised. Vet checks, dental checks and treatment, and hoof care as appropriate. NO information is hidden from prospective adopters. Any past injuries/conditions and any little quirks or vices are made known in an effort to match every animal to the perfect home.

Can you give me a full history on an animal?

Some of our animals have been handed in, but most are stray or abandoned. If an animal is handed in we get as much information as we can from previous owners but if they are a stray it can be difficult. Our team give each animal a full assessment so we can piece together as much of that animal's story as we can.

NO information is hidden from prospective adopters. Any past injuries/conditions and any little quirks or vices are made known in an effort to match every animal to the perfect home.

Could I be turned down for rehoming an animal?

Through a thorough assessment that helps us match each animal to the right person we sometimes find a home will not be the perfect fit. If that is the case we will discuss this with you and if appropriate, suggest alternative options.

We rehome to all different types of homes. It really does come down to whether your home is the best match for one of our animals. We will be honest if we don't feel you are eligible to rehome a particular animal. Please don't take this personally as there are many factors we take into account that could mean your home isn't the best environment for that animal. As a responsible rehoming organisation we would be doing a disservice to ourselves, the animal and to you if we were to rehome an animal somewhere that we didn't see as their forever home.

We know people have their hearts set on certain animals and it's disappointing to hear they won't be coming home with you but our team will have made the decision knowing the animal as well as they do, and not wanting to cause undue heartache in the future.

What is Home from Home Rehoming?

We offer a Home from Home Rehoming service where we cannot offer your animal a place at the sanctuary. Home from Home is where we try and find your animal a new home while it continues to live with their current owners.

This reduces the stress on the animal of having to move to the sanctuary. A Home from Home also means you get to have a say in where your animal ends up; we do know that not every pet that we rehome this way is neccessarily 'unwanted' and many can be the result of circumstances out of your control. We do our best to match potential homes with animals and will assist with home checks etc.

What if it doesn't work out?

Although this is very sad, it does happen; one of the reasons we take our time in the rehoming process is to try and reduce the number of returning animals. We will retain ownership of the animal throughout its life and this ensures it cannot be passed on without our knowledge and perhaps end up a bad home; what this also means is we are here to help you for the rest of your animal's life. If you have any concerns, big or small, let us know as and we will do our best to help you through them.

If it is ultimately decided that returning the animal to us is the best course of action, we will take them back into our care and try and find another home for them (if that is the suitable course of action).

Can I take my new pet home on the same day?

Sadly this isn't possible as the process normally takes at least a week, but it can be shorter or longer depending on a few factors.

Our rehoming team will do their best to find an animal (dog/cat/horse/pony/bird/etc.) whose needs suit your lifestyle from the start. We take care with our application process so that by the time people meet the animal on their first visit they agree on a match and pending a potential home visit it can be less than a week before your new pet is home with you!

Can I rehome from out of Northern Ireland?

Yes, we have many animals that have been rehomed further afield than Northern Ireland. We have rehomed to the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Germany and Austria!

We do prefer you can visit the centre as many times as necessary to meet and work with the animal, we understand this is not always easy to do.Rehoming out of the country is on a case by case basis, and the rehoming team will let you know if this is possible.

Can you email me more details about an animal, or photos?

If we have anymore information we will pass that along. Unfortunately the Sanctuary can be extremely busy so it can be difficult to get more photos or videos.

If you are interested in adopting and the animal is on site the rehoming team will invite you to come and see them.

Keep an eye on our social media feeds too as we try to make regular updates.

VISITING

Is the sanctuary open all year?

Technically yes; behind the scenes. We are working every day of the year because animals need daily care.

Unfortunately we are not open to the general public without an appointment. You can make an appointment to visit by contacting us via email - office@crosskennanlane.org.uk

What can I expect to see if I visit?

Crosskennan is first and foremost an animal sanctuary. We have an average of 100 resident animals but we don’t make them perform for visitors! This means that we cannot guarantee what animals you will see. All visits must be by appointment only!

Please do not turn up at the sanctuary without an appointment as you will not be allowed inside. You can make an appointment to visit by contacting us via email - office@crosskennanlane.org.uk

What is an AAT Visit?

Crosskennan is first and foremost an animal sanctuary but over the years we have discovered the amazing benefits of working with animals. We offer people the chance to work with animals through Animal Asisted Therapy (AAT) visits - both on and off site.

Is the Sanctuary accessible to wheelchair users?

Crosskennan has areas that are wheelchair accessible but this is limited unfortunately. We have a number of concrete and gravel laneways but due to the operations of the sanctuary we have a large number of gates so we recommend that wheelchair users are accompanied by an able bodied person. Our Visitor's centre is wheelchair accessible.

We are working hard to ensure everyone has equal access to areas of the sanctuary but unfortunately our funding is focused on the care of the animals.

Can I bring my dog?

No, you cannot bring your dog into the sanctuary when visiting. We have a few events on throughout the year where well behaved dogs are welcome to visit the sanctuary. They must be kept under control on a short lead.

Can I bring my children to the Sanctuary?

Children are very welcome at the sanctuary. If you are looking to find a new member of the family, it is important that everyone who will be in regular contact with the animal can get to know them!

We also provide children's educational talks about animal welfare, care and safety, etc. Feel free to ask for more information via email events@crosskennanlane.org.uk

Please do not turn up at the sanctuary without an appointment as you will not be allowed inside. You can make an appointment to visit by contacting us via email - office@crosskennanlane.org.uk